Pressurized beverage dispenser

Abstract

The disclosed invention is directed to a sealing and dispensing apparatus that is used to preserve the contents of a carbonated beverage container. It includes a novel double plug seal located in a plug fluid chamber having a wider portion and a narrow portion. The double seal plug engages at its forward end with the discharge port. The aft end of the double seal plug engages the narrow portion of the plug fluid chamber. Taken together, the double seals allow for reduced spraying and leakage of fluid from the apparatus, both during and after fluid is dispensed. The invention also relates to a novel method for attaching the plug to the actuator. It also relates to an improved design for attaching an apparatus to a beverage container, and a novel design for gradually reducing the pressure of the fluid to be dispensed, thus preserving the carbon dioxide or other gases within the fluid.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for dispensing a pressurized fluid from a container, said apparatus comprising: 
       (a) a head;  
       (b) said head connectable to the container;  
       (c) said head comprising an inlet port, a discharge port, and portions defining a fluid chamber for fluid communication between said inlet port and said discharge port;  
       (d) a seal plug;  
       (e) said seal plug being positioned inside said fluid chamber;  
       (f) said seal plug being actuable for movement between an open position allowing fluid flow through said discharge port and a closed position blocking fluid flow;  
       (g) said seal plug having a forward end and an aft end;  
       (h) said seal plug forward end being sized and shaped such that said forward end forms a watertight seal with said discharge port when said apparatus is in the closed position;  
       (i) a connecting shaft;  
       (j) said connecting shaft having a first end and a second end;  
       (k) said connecting shaft first end being connected to said seal plug;  
       (l) a driver pin;  
       (m) said driver pin being connected to said connecting shaft second end;  
       (n) an actuator;  
       (o) said actuator comprising a handle, a pivot point and portions defining a slot;  
       (p) said pivot point being located so as to allow said actuator to pivot as said apparatus is operated between the open position and the closed position by the user actuating said handle;  
       (q) said slot holding said driver pin;  
       (r) said slot being oriented so as to allow said driver pin to travel along the length of said slot as said actuator is pivoted;  
       (s) said slot being further oriented such that as said driver pin travels along the length of said slot, said connecting shaft is able to travel in a linear direction;  
       (t) a siphon tube;  
       (u) said siphon tube comprising a head end and an inlet end; and  
       (v) said head end being connected to said inlet port and said inlet end projecting below the surface of the fluid in the container.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       (a) said fluid chamber further comprises portions defining a plug chamber;  
       (b) said plug chamber comprises a narrow portion and a wider portion;  
       (c) said plug chamber narrow portion having a smaller cross-section for fluid flow than said plug chamber wider portion;  
       (d) said plug chamber narrow portion being adjacent to said plug chamber wider portion;  
       (e) said seal plug aft end being sized and shaped to form a watertight connection with said narrow portion; and  
       (f) said seal plug being dimensioned such that said seal plug aft end is located in said plug chamber narrow portion when said apparatus is in the closed position and said seal plug aft end is located in said seal plug chamber wider portion when said apparatus is in said open position.  
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein: 
       (a) said plug chamber narrow portion is non-fluted; and  
       (b) said plug chamber wider portion is fluted.  
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said plug chamber narrow portion has an approximately round cross section. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said head is removably connectable to the container. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein 
       (a) said head further comprises portions defining an annular opening for receiving the threaded top of the container;  
       (b) said annular opening comprising an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter;  
       (c) said outer perimeter comprising a threaded connection for mating to the container; and  
       (d) said outer perimeter meeting said inner perimeter at an angle less than ninety degrees to form an annular groove.  
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said annular groove is tapered such that when the container is attached to said head, the container is forced into vertical alignment with said annular chamber inner perimeter. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said annular groove is “v”-shaped such that when the container is attached to said head, the container is forced into vertical alignment with said inner perimeter. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising: 
       (a) one or more flow controllers;  
       (b) said one or more flow controllers being located within said siphon tube; and  
       (c) said one or more flow controllers being shaped and placed within said siphon tube such that the flow of the beverage through said siphon tube is partially obstructed when the pressurized fluid encounters said one or more obstructors.  
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
       (a) a flow controller shaft;  
       (b) said flow controller shaft being located within said siphon tube; and  
       (c) said one or more flow controllers being affixed to said shaft.  
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the axial cross-section of each of said one or more flow controllers is between approximately 90% and approximately 95% of the axial cross-section of said siphon tube. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said one or more flow controllers are substantially spherical. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
       (a) one or more nubs;  
       (b) said one or more nubs being located on at least one of said one or more flow controllers; and  
       (c) said one or more nubs being located on the perimeter of said one or more flow controllers for ensuring that a gap is maintained for fluid flow between said outer perimeter of said one or more flow controllers and said inside wall of said siphon tube.  
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said siphon tube is removably connected to said head. 
     
     
       15. An apparatus for dispensing a pressurized fluid from a container, said apparatus comprising: 
       (a) a head;  
       (b) said head comprising an inlet port, a discharge port, and portions defining a fluid chamber for fluid communication between said inlet port and said discharge port;  
       (c) said head being removably connectable to the container;  
       (d) said fluid chamber further comprising portions defining a vertical component and portions comprising a plug chamber;  
       (e) said plug chamber sloping downward at an angle of about forty-five degrees with respect to the vertical axis;  
       (f) said plug chamber comprising a narrow portion and a wider portion;  
       (g) said plug chamber narrow portion having a smaller cross-section for fluid flow than said plug chamber wider portion;  
       (h) said plug chamber narrow portion being adjacent to and terminating in said discharge port;  
       (i) said plug chamber narrow portion having an approximately round cross section;  
       (j) said plug chamber narrow portion being non-fluted;  
       (k) said plug chamber narrow portion being adjacent to said plug chamber wider portion;  
       (l) said plug chamber wider portion being fluted.  
       (m) a seal plug;  
       (n) said seal plug being positioned inside said fluid chamber;  
       (o) said seal plug being actuable for movement between an open position allowing fluid flow through said discharge port and a closed position blocking fluid flow;  
       (p) said seal plug having a forward end and an aft end;  
       (q) said seal plug forward end being sized and shaped such that said forward end forms a watertight seal with said discharge port when said apparatus is in the closed position;  
       (r) said seal plug aft end being sized and shaped to form a watertight connection with said seal plug chamber narrow portion;  
       (s) said seal plug being dimensioned such that said seal plug aft end is located in said plug chamber narrow portion when said apparatus is in the closed position and said seal plug aft end is located in said seal plug chamber wider portion when said apparatus is in the open position;  
       (t) an actuator;  
       (u) said actuator comprising a handle, a pivot point and portions defining a slot;  
       (v) said pivot point being located so to allow said actuator to pivot as said apparatus is operated between the open position and the closed position by the user actuating said handle;  
       (w) a driver pin;  
       (x) said slot holding said driver pin;  
       (y) a connecting shaft;  
       (z) a connecting shaft chamber;  
       (aa) a connecting shaft seal;  
       (bb) said connecting shaft seal being located at said connecting shaft chamber forward end;  
       (cc) said connecting shaft seal being formed of the same material as said head and designed to prevent the flow of fluid into said connecting shaft chamber;  
       (dd) said connecting shaft passing through said connecting shaft chamber;  
       (ee) a compression spring;  
       (ff) said connecting shaft being located primarily in said seal plug chamber when said actuator is in the closed position due to the force of said compression spring;  
       (gg) said connecting shaft having a first end and a second end;  
       (hh) said connecting shaft first end being connected to said seal plug;  
       (ii) said connecting shaft second end being connected to said driver pin;  
       (jj) said slot being oriented so as to allow said driver pin to travel along the length of said slot as said actuator is pivoted;  
       (kk) said slot being further oriented such that as said driver pin travels along the length of said slot, said connecting shaft is able to travel in a linear direction;  
       (ll) a siphon tube;  
       (mm) a siphon tube extension;  
       (nn) said siphon tube comprising a head end and an inlet end;  
       (oo) said siphon tube head end being removably connected to said head;  
       (pp) said siphon tube inlet end being connected to said siphon tube extension;  
       (qq) said siphon tube extension projecting below the surface of the fluid in the container;  
       (rr) one or more flow controllers;  
       (ss) said one or more flow controllers being shaped and placed within said siphon tube such that the flow of the fluid through said siphon tube is partially obstructed when the pressurized fluid encounters said one or more controllers;  
       (tt) said one or more flow controllers being substantially spherical;  
       (uu) each of said one or more flow controllers having an axial cross section that is between approximately 90% and approximately 95% of the axial cross-section of said siphon tube;  
       (vv) each of said one or more flow controllers having three or more nubs;  
       (ww) said three or nubs being located on the horizontal perimeter of said one or more flow controllers for ensuring that a gap is maintained concentrically about the perimeter of said one or more flow controllers such as to allow fluid flow between said outer perimeter of said one or more flow controllers and the inside wall of said siphon tube;  
       (xx) a flow controller shaft;  
       (yy) said flow controller shaft being located within said siphon tube;  
       (zz) said one or more flow controllers being affixed to said flow controller shaft;  
       (aaa) said flow controller shaft being threadably attached to said head;  
       (bbb) said head further comprising portions defining an annular opening for receiving the threaded top of the container;  
       (ccc) said annular opening comprising an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter;  
       (ddd) said outer perimeter comprising a threaded connection for mating to the container;  
       (eee) said outer perimeter meeting said inner perimeter to form an annular groove; and  
       (fff) said annular groove being “v”-shaped such that when the container is attached to said head, the container is forced into vertical alignment with said inner perimeter.